Count Down to 31 October 2013! Report from UNISON HE branch seminar Delegates to UNISON’s recent higher education branch seminar made plans for the final preparations for this week’s nationwide strike. This joint action with UCU and Unite aims to get an improvement on the employers’ 1% pay offer. Ideas for branches to consider as part of their strike planning to achieve maximum turnout include: • Take the opportunity to recruit new members! • Increase UNISON’s visibility on picket lines. Order rain ponchos, baseball hats, UNISON golf umbrellas – any orders received by Communications [email protected] by 10am 29 October 2013 will be despatched to be received no later than noon Wednesday. • HE Branches should send messages of support to colleagues in their region before and during the strike to show that members are not alone and that colleagues around UK are supporting the action. • Organise breakfasts for those on the picket lines to build camaraderie • Recognise that it will be the first time for many people and that this can be a difficult decision to take. • Encourage outsourced workers who are not part of the dispute to show their support. Suggestions include meeting with members on the picket lines in lunch breaks, tea breaks, and sign petitions of support. • Appoint a branch member to contact local newspapers and radio. Ask a member if they are prepared to provide a human interest story. • Encourage ‘high impact’ such as librarians, security, receptionists to go on strike. • Have guidelines for members on the picket line, and provide crib sheets on how to politely engage with staff who cross the picket line. • Provide a crib sheet and sue the campaign leaflet to explain the issues around the strike to students about why we are taking strike action. • Talent spot for potential new activists. • Hold drop-ins around the campus to encourage people to take strike • Take heart in the fact that management wouldn’t be taking such lengths to try to dissuade staff to take the action if they were not concerned. • Request that your Vice Chancellor attend the picket line to explain to members their position and question whether they support an improved offer • Discuss other local issues that members and staff are unhappy about. • Ask employers if the deduction of strike pay can be deferred until after January. • Use the branch checklist in the branch industrial action handbook. • Check if any high profile visitors will be attending the campus and use this in publicity. • Ask staff crossing the picket line to contribute to the hardship fund to compensate those members taking strike action for the future benefit of all the staff working at the universities across the UK. • Prepare for the 24 hour strike and support all the members regardless of the hours they work. • Any queries contact [email protected] You need to encourage all members to make a stand on the 31st October. A well supported strike is vital in getting the employers to see the strength of support for better pay. More information can be found on the UNISON website at: https://secure.unison.org.uk/unisonf0d2bfd2bf1d3bbfa7ac24c0e625b2ff6c26750879/unison1/at-work/education-services/key-issues/he-pay-dispute/home/ You can also follow us on Twitter at @UNISONinHE or our Facebook page https://facebook/#!/.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 14:12:31 +0000
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